A Great Falls man who admits to being involved in about 50 street fights and having "knocked out at least 20 people" has been charged with deliberate homicide in the beating death of a 26-year-old man who is described as being "a friend of Douglas."

Darionn Tyler Douglas was arrested early Sept. 5 and charged with felony aggravated assault after Great Falls police responded to a call just after 2 a.m. Tuesday reporting that an unconscious man was at a residence on the 1200 block of 7th Avenue South.

A court affidavit states that when police arrived at the residence the deceased man, identified only as M.L., "appeared to have been severely beaten and was bleeding profusely." The female resident of the residence "was a registered nurse and was administering aid to the victim" the affidavit states.

Crime news(Photo: GRAPHIC)

M.L. was immediately transported to Benefis Health System where he was treated for his injuries. On Thursday, Sept. 7, medical personnel advised the investigating officer that M.L. "was clinically brain dead."

Douglas' charges have now been amended to include deliberate homicide, and in the alternative felony negligent homicide. If convicted of deliberate homicide, Douglas could face the death penalty.

According to the court affidavit, Douglas admitted to police that he and M.L. had been in a fight.

"Douglas admitted he and the victim were drinking alcohol when a verbal argument ensued," the court affidavit states. "Both Douglas and the victim agreed to go outside and engage in a fight."

Douglas later admitted to putting a set of weight lifting gloves on his hands just prior to the fight with M.L.

In a follow-up interview, Douglas allegedly bragged to police investigators that he had "been involved in roughly 50 street fights and of those fights, he had knocked out at least 20 people."

Douglas also has a prior Partner/Family Member Assault conviction.

Douglas told police that M.L. hit him first, breaking his nose and tooth. However, Douglas' nose was examined by medical staff the morning of the assault, and it was found to not be broken.

Douglas allegedly then kicked M.L. in the face and knocked him out, and then continued to repeatedly punch, elbow and knee the man in the face after he was unconscious.

"Medical personnel indicated M.L. has sustained massive injuries to his face to include a broken jaw in two places, a broken orbital bone/eye socket, and substantial brain trauma causing it to swell significantly," the court affidavit states. "It was determined the injuries sustained by M.L. were caused by Douglas, and they directly led to his death."

The state of Montana has requested a $250,000 bond for Douglas' release pending trial. He remains in custody at the Cascade County Detention Center.